Magic Seaside Motel in Vilano will be turned into a boutique resort
Soon after the sale of the home to yet another developer fell through following a incredibly general public battle with neighbors, the Magic Beach Motel in Vilano Beach has been sold.
But the new homeowners — a boutique lodge administration organization — say they have no programs at this time to transform the iconic classic motel, apart from some normal repairs and renovations.
“At the minute, we’re just targeted on operating the property,” reported Sonny Bhikha, a principal with Shivam Attributes.
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Critical Intercontinental, a Miami-based developer, experienced planned to get the Magic Beach front Motel and transform it into the 194-place Vilano Beach front Resort. The business backed out of the offer final December just after the St. Johns County Commission voted 4- to deny its layout software. Critical Worldwide is the very same firm powering the Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Seashore.
On May possibly 9, Shivam Attributes finalized the $3.8 million transaction to purchase the 24-room motor lodge at 50 Vilano Road from Earl and Remy Jensen who have owned it since 2010.
The agency also manages motels and hotels in Jacksonville Seaside, where it is based, as very well as the Rodeway Inn on Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
Normally, Shivam Properties purchases a franchise of a countrywide chain and then refurbishes it with sleek, modern day features.
“There’s this kind of a desire for lodges that are not cookie-cutter,” Bhikha reported. “We noticed the option right here and just form of moved on from there.”
Shivam Properties has presently taken above management of the Magic Beach front Motel and is continuing operations as regular, such as honoring previous reservations.
Magic Beach Motel received its identify from its use as a established spot for the 1999 Warner Brothers Television collection “Safe Harbor,” starring Emmy winner and Golden World nominee Rue McClanahan. Also that includes Gregory Harrison, the collection was about a sheriff and father of three boys residing in Magic Beach, Florida, a fictional town.
The motel, constructed in 1951, functions Art Deco style and design and has turn out to be a local community fixture in Vilano.
Neighbors founded the North Seashore Group Alliance, a team of citizens and area modest businesses, in 2021 to tackle fears in excess of a progress they considered could negatively effect the setting and high quality of existence.
Past August, the group put out a petition asking the county suspend permits for commercial and combined-use developments in Vilano Seaside City Heart which garnered practically 700 signatures. Area people also spoke out at the 1st arranging conferences where by Essential Intercontinental floated the thought of the 194-space lodge.
Michael Clare-Salzler, a 10-year Vilano resident who does not belong to the North Seaside Local community Alliance but is involved about overdevelopment, spoke to The Document on Wednesday.
Clare-Salzler reported he not heard about the acquire of the Magic Seaside Motel by new owners. When provided a description of the new owner’s designs for the property, Clare-Salzler explained, “Properly, that is very good news to hear.”
In recent yrs, the Vilano space has develop into much more commercially made.
In addition to present inns and Airbnb rentals, the 50-room Holiday Inn Express has opened and a Hyatt Location 120-home hotel will open up this drop.
To Bhikha’s intellect, competitiveness is fantastic and he can recognize why travellers discover the place pleasing.
“The whole Vilano Beach is walkable, protected and a location the place persons want to appear disconnect,” Bhikha mentioned.